No one wants to be told that their skin has been infected with a fungus. It just sounds wrong and people think of a creeping moss that’s spreading out of their skin. However, the truth is that’s actually a pretty common ailment that can occur in people.
Skin fungus and foot fungus especially is caused by moisture. Feet that don’t get a chance to breathe are the prime targets for foot fungus. Thankfully there are an abundance of treatments to assist people with their foot fungus. Anti fungal creams come in a huge amount of variety and are waiting at a local pharmacy to be used.
Toenail Fungus Treatment
Toenail fungus also goes by the name onychomycosis. Of course, knowing that name, it’s no surprise people just call it toenail fungus. Toenail fungus may not be immediately recognized, but when a single toenail is an odd color and different from the rest, then that’s probably toenail fungus. For people who don’t want to try out the prescription route, there are a lot of different treatment methods they can do at home. Here are some ways that people can treat their toenail fungus:
- Herbal Oils - There are several herbs that produce oils that can treat toenail fungus. These herbs are fairly potent in their oil form and some people do have reactions to them. These include things like Oregano and Olive leaves!
- Vinegar - While it may not be the best smelling option, vinegar is a safe choice that doesn’t pose much risk of side effects or reaction. The vinegar needs to be watered down and it should likely be approximately 33% vinegar with the rest being water. Soaking the toes in this should occur about 20 minutes each day until resolved.
- Listerine - Hey, it works for bad breath! Many of the ingredients actually have some excellent anti fungal properties. This is a toe soak that should last around 30 minutes per day.
- Garlic - Treating toe fungus like a vampire can work too. Crushed cloves of garlic can be placed directly under the affected toe. Alternatively taking garlic capsules is supposed to also be an option. But that removes that sweet garlic smell!
Foot Fungus Treatments
Foot fungus is a bit different than toenail fungus, but just as troublesome. Foot fungus is also caused by moisture and can also go by other names. One of the most common types of foot fungus is athlete’s foot.
Athlete’s foot is caused by excessive sweat and moisture in the feet that isn’t removed properly. Shoes that don’t allow for adequate ventilation can become a problem. This is also true of socks. Socks should be changed regularly is a person is prone to sweating from their feet. This can reduce the potential for athlete’s foot. In addition to keeping feet dry and avoiding moisture, medical creams are the preferred treatment for athlete’s foot fungus.
Anti fungal Creams
Anti fungal creams are now a common medication that is available regularly. They may also come in lotion, gel, spray or powdered forms as well. These creams are all applied directly to the skin where the fungus is located. Most anti fungal creams are available without a prescription. There are also prescription options for people with severe fungal infections.
One downside to anti fungal creams is that people will often get fungal infections again in the future. Treatment needs to be combined with additional prevention to ensure there are no future instances of fungus.